Panthers open baseball season

After two cancellations, the Heber Springs Panthers finally had the chance to hit the diamond over the weekend at a three-game classic in Lonoke.

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By Will Gilbert

The Sun-Times - Heber Springs, AR

By Will Gilbert

Posted Mar. 6, 2013 at 9:20 AM
Updated Mar 6, 2013 at 9:25 AM

By Will Gilbert

Posted Mar. 6, 2013 at 9:20 AM
Updated Mar 6, 2013 at 9:25 AM

Lonoke

After two cancellations, the Heber Springs Panthers finally had the chance to hit the diamond over the weekend at a three-game classic in Lonoke.
In their first game under the guidance of head coach B.J. Greene, who led Carlisle to the state title game last season, the Panthers fell to Glen Rose 10-5.
Paden Flippin paced the Panthers, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, single and 3 RBI.
Also for Heber, Harley Hooten crushed a homerun in his first plate appearance of the season, while Brooks Morgan, Colby Allen and Zach Ingram each had a single for Heber.
The Panthers (1-2) lost to Class 5A Morrilton 8-5 on Saturday morning before bouncing back with a 13-3 win over Pulaski Robinson later that afternoon.
In the loss to Morrilton, Flippin was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI, Hooten finished 1-for-2 with 2 RBI and Morgan was 1-for-2 with 2 runs and a stolen base. Blaine Hill (1-for-3) and Chandler Jones (1-for-4), who also stole a base, each added a base hit for the Panthers.
Flippin led the Panthers once again in their win over Robinson, finishing 4-for-4 with three doubles, one single and 5 RBI.
Morgan followed with two hits, including an RBI, while Hooten was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI.
Freshman Hunter Chandler picked up the win on the mound for Heber, tossing five innings without allowing a hit. Chandler struck out one and walked one.
Judson Smith pitched the final two frames as Heber rolled to a 10-run victory.
Heber lost to South Side Bee Branch 16-3 in its home opener Tuesday. They hit the road again for games at Carlisle Thursday and Jonesboro Saturday, when the Panthers will face Valley View and Jonesboro Westside in a doubleheader scheduled for a 1 p.m. at Valley View.